Emmet Condon of Another Love Story introduces a new music weekender from the team behind the much loved music event, which takes place in Killyon Manor, Co. Meath, from Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd August

Of all the challenges and learnings of the past two years - I have recently arrived at a very sincere appreciation of momentum.

Momentum is that invisible force which propels you from one place to another, it is the silent ball of energy that runs you, on rails, through time, space, and life itself. It is a feeling that is both completely insidious, and at the same time hammer blow certain.

It is the thing that we took most for granted - the basic ability to gather with our friends to celebrate the joy of life together.

So, when a global pandemic strikes, not only do the obvious and fundamental markers of life cease to exist, you also lose that all important guiding wind of momentum behind your back.

Once the various parts of the machine slowly spin to a full stop - you travel past the stations of loss, and despair, and, like most people I feel - you eventually arrive at the terminus of acceptance, and a somewhat peaceful acknowledgement that there are greater powers at work.

However, re-starting the machine without that momentum, it turns out, Is a lot more difficult than stopping it in the first place.

Hence, It is almost surreal to be thinking of the things I find myself thinking about currently, just a week out for our first return to a live show in two years.

Another Love Story is a small festival run by a group of close friends, which has, incrementally but relatively forcefully become the centerpiece of our lives. Each August, for the past eight years (bar 2020 of course) we have welcomed 2000 or so souls to our adopted Manor home - the glorious Killyon Manor - to feast, for a weekend, on the finest Irish and select international artists and performers.

ALS is many things, but I can say with some certainty and pride in my heart, that our little gathering has been a small but solid spark of joy in people's life over its lifetime, and that the care and attention to detail which an event of that scale allows us to invest in it, is reflected in the special place it holds in the Irish festival calendar.

It is, in all senses, a nice thing.

Of course, there has literally been no worse industry to be involved in than the live music sector over the past two years. Great and genuine credit must go to the government for their far reaching support of the industry in terms of the funding schemes such as the LPSS. These schemes have literally stopped an industry from complete collapse, and have also hopefully opened a new conversation around funding with commercial ventures which were previously completely lacking.

In saying that, it also has to be said that we continue to suffer very prescriptive restrictions, and a lack of basic trust to operate safe and professional events on a larger scale - the very thing our industry does year in year out.

However, on the cusp of a return to our beautiful festival site - I am so excited to feel that thrill of of the gates opening, our beautiful lovers strolling through the meadows, and the sound of music surrounding us all once more.

It is the thing that we took most for granted - the basic ability to gather with our friends to celebrate the joy of life together.

Love Is A Stranger takes place over three days in Killyon Manor, Co. Meath, from Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd August - find out more here.

Pics: Ste Murray